Sealing strip and method of sealing

Abstract

A sealing strip comprising an elongate sealing portion formed of resiliently compressible material such as foam and an elongate attachment portion extending laterally from the sealing portion. The attachment portion is provided with adhesive to affix it to the rear side of a first body panel so that the sealing portion is located in a gap between the panel and an adjacent component so as to seal or mask the gap therebetween. The sealing portion and attachment portion are preferably integrally formed by an extrusion process. The sealing strip has particular application to the sealing of the “B” post gap of a motor vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A sealing strip adapted to seal a gap between a body of a motor vehicle and an edge of a body panel that has an inner surface and is moveable between open and closed positions relative to the body of the motor vehicle, said sealing strip comprising: 
       an elongate sealing portion of resiliently compressible material and an elongate attachment portion having at least a part extending laterally from the sealing portion, the sealing portion having a cross-section with a convex surface along a first side thereof and having an adhesive surface on the convex surface and/or on the opposite surface thereof, and the attachment portion having an adhesive surface on said part extending laterally from the sealing portion and facing in substantially the same direction as said convex surface of the sealing portion, the laterally extending part of the attachment portion having a substantially uniform thickness in a direction normal to said adhesive surface of said part; and  
       the adhesive on the attachment portion adapted to adhere to the inner surface of the body panel with the sealing portion projecting beyond the edge of the body panel when the body panel is in the open position such that the sealing portion seals the gap between the edge of the body panel and the motor vehicle when the body panel is moved to the closed position,  
       wherein a width of the attachment portion is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm and/or a combined width of the sealing portion and the attachment portion is in the range of 20 mm to 90 mm, said widths being defined in a direction in which the attachment portion extends laterally, and wherein the sealing portion and the attachment portion are formed as a single integral piece.  
     
     
       2. A sealing strip of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
       3. A sealing strip adapted to seal a gap between a body of a motor vehicle and an edge of a body panel that has an inner surface and is moveable between open and closed positions relative to the body of the motor vehicle, said sealing strip comprising: 
       an elongate sealing portion of resiliently compressible material;  
       an elongate attachment portion extending laterally from the sealing portion; and  
       an adhesive surface on the attachment portion adapted to adhere to the inner surface of the body panel with the sealing portion projecting beyond the edge of the body panel when the body panel is in the open position such that the sealing portion seals the gap between the edge of the body panel and the body of the motor vehicle when the body panel is moved to the closed position,  
       wherein the attachment portion has a substantially uniform thickness in a direction normal to said adhesive surface, and  
       wherein a width of the attachment portion is in the range of 10 mm to 50 mm and/or a combined width of the sealing portion and the attachment portion is in the range of 20 mm to 90 mm, said widths being defined in a direction in which the attachment portion extends laterally, and wherein the sealing portion and the attachment portion are formed as a single integral piece.  
     
     
       4. The sealing strip of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment portion extends laterally from the sealing portion in a first direction and the sealing portion has a greater thickness in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and said attachment portion. 
     
     
       5. The sealing strip of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment portion is substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
       6. A sealing strip adapted to seal a gap between a body of a motor vehicle and an edge of a body panel that has an inner surface and is moveable between open and closed positions relative to the body of the motor vehicle, said sealing strip comprising: 
       an elongate sealing portion of resiliently compressible material and an elongate attachment portion having a part extending laterally from the sealing portion, the sealing portion having a cross-section with a convex surface along a first side thereof and having an adhesive surface on the convex surface and/or on the opposite surface thereof, and the attachment portion having an adhesive surface on said part extending laterally from the sealing portion and facing in substantially the same direction as said convex surface of the sealing portion, the laterally extending part of the attachment portion having a substantially uniform thickness in a direction normal to said adhesive surface of said part; and  
       the adhesive on the attachment portion adapted to adhere to the inner surface of the body panel with the sealing portion projecting beyond the edge of the body panel when the body panel is in the open position such that the sealing portion seals the gap between the edge of the body panel and the motor vehicle when the body panel is moved to the closed position,  
       wherein the sealing portion and attachment portion are formed as a single integral piece.  
     
     
       7. The sealing strip of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing portion is substantially circular or substantially oval in cross section. 
     
     
       8. The sealing strip of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment portion is substantially rectangular in cross section.